Beatrice S. Purtee

Beatrice S. Purtee, 83 of Kalamazoo, MI., formerly of Union, MI, passed away on Saturday, September 5, 2025 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo, MI, surrounded by her family. Bea was born on May 13, 1942 in Rugby, ND to Stephan and Helen Ripplinger. She married Dale R. Purtee on June 27, 1981 in Union, MI., he preceded her in death on October 25, 2009.

Bea retired from Elkhart General Hospital where she worked as a nurse’s aide and in the nursery, a job she truly enjoyed because of her love for babies. She attended Lady of The Lake Catholic Church in Edwardsburg, MI. Bea enjoyed sewing and mending for her family. She could lose herself reading a good book and she kept her mind sharp by doing puzzles. Most of all she loved to spend time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bea will be sadly missed.

Bea is survived by her children, Thomas Schmitt of Union, MI., Keri (David) Medford of Union, MI., Steven A. (Kathy) Schmitt of Edwardsburg, MI., and Brenda K. Shephard, her grandchildren, Nicole Whalen, David (Gretchen) Medford, Tony (Chelsie) Schmitt, Tyler (Amanda) Schmitt, Katie Rogers, Emily Rogers and Mynah Karsch and her great-grandchildren, Hannah, Adrianna, Nathanial, Austin, Destiny, Ameria, Nylah, Libby, Luke, Avery, Harlow, and Tillian; and her brother Brian (Sandy) Olsen of Bismark, ND. Bea was preceded in death by her husband Dale Purtee; stepdad Arthur Olsen, Brother Howard (Joan) Olsen and her grandson Skylar Schmitt.

Visitation will be held from 11am-1pm on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514 where funeral services will be held at 1pm. Bea will be laid to rest next to her husband Dale at Kessington Cemetery in Union, MI. Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 5635 West 96th Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278 www.cancer.org Online condolences may be made to her family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com